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SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)-Chapter 72: Look At This, Daniel.
Chapter 72: Look At This, Daniel.
Morning spilled into the narrow streets of the city, washing away the last shadows of night with a
pale, golden light.
In the slums, the sunlight fell in scattered rays through torn canvas awnings and gaps in the rooftops, catching on drifting dust motes that danced like tiny fireflies.
Ethan adjusted the sleeves of his black shirt, rolling them neatly to his forearms, the morning chill
brushing cool fingers over his skin.
He tilted his head toward Reyna as they made their way down the winding alleys.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice low, carrying that lazy confidence that always seemed to wrap
around his words like silk.
Reyna hoisted a heavy burlap sack over her shoulder, muscles rippling beneath her cloak. "Yer
askin’ me if I’m ready to give away food? Ain’t no sword-swingin’ involved today, but fine. Let’s
get this done."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "Try not to scare the kids off with that face of yours,
barbarian."
Reyna shot him a glare, but a grin tugged at the corners of her lips. "Hmph. Says the pretty boy
with the bedroom eyes."
The slums smelled of smoke, damp earth, and old sweat. But amid the decay, Ethan’s presence
felt like a breeze cutting through stifling heat.
His hair gleamed under the sunlight, eyes sharp and black as obsidian, and his steps held a predator’s ease.
This time, they didn’t go searching for Daniel. Instead, they picked a corner near a cluster of
crumbling shacks and set up two wooden stalls.
With practiced efficiency, Ethan and Reyna laid out neat rows of small cloth-wrapped parcels: bread, dried meat, rice, fruit, even a few pieces of sweet candy shining like jewels in the morning light.
Within minutes, a crowd of wide-eyed children began to gather, drawn by the sight of the food
and the gentle smile on Ethan’s face.
"Form a line!" Reyna bellowed, her voice echoing off the stone walls. Several kids flinched, and
Ethan sighed.
"Try not to terrify them, Reyna." He gave her an exasperated look, then leaned forward, his tone
softening as he addressed the kids. "Don’t worry, little guys. There’s enough for everyone. No one
goes hungry today."
He handed out food one by one, each time offering a few words, a gentle pat on the head, or a
wink that made the younger girls giggle and the boys puff up with pride. His movements were
smooth, graceful—even elegant.
Reyna grumbled under her breath but followed suit, carefully passing out food parcels despite her
scowling face.
Not far away, hidden behind a leaning fence, Daniel stood frozen. His long black hair fell over his
shoulders, catching little glints of light.
His grey eyes, sharp and restless, were fixed on the scene unfolding before him.
Why aren’t they coming to me today?
The thought churned in his chest, leaving an unfamiliar ache. He shifted from foot to foot,
frustration twisting his features.
He kept glancing around, trying to spot one of the kids. But they were all gathered around those
two strangers... Ethan and Reyna... handing out food with easy smiles and laughter.
Daniel clenched his fists. His throat felt dry, his pulse drumming in his ears.
Who the hell do they think they are...?
Ethan, meanwhile, caught the movement from the corner of his eye. He didn’t turn, didn’t
acknowledge it outright. But the corner of his mouth curved slightly, as if he’d been expecting
exactly this.
He kept working, chatting with a little girl who clutched a piece of bread to her chest as though it
were gold.
After what felt like an hour, the last child left, their arms heavy with food, eyes shining with shy
gratitude.
Silence fell over the clearing, broken only by the soft rustling of canvas and the distant
cries of gulls wheeling over the rooftops.
Daniel finally stepped out of hiding, his boots scraping against the broken stones. He stalked
toward the stall, eyes dark and stormy.
"Why..." He swallowed, voice rough. "Why are you doing this?"
Ethan wiped his hands with a cloth, glancing up. His expression was open, serene.
"I’m just giving free food to kids," he said lightly. "Don’t you want them to eat too?"
Daniel looked away, struggling to find his voice. "Yeah, but... you’re takin’ them away from me."
Ethan tilted his head, studying him like a puzzle he already knew the answer to. "I’m not taking
anything. I’m making sure they actually get to eat."
Daniel blinked, anger flashing in his eyes. "What’s that supposed to mean?"
Reyna let out a sharp scoff, stepping forward. Her glare could’ve cracked stone. "It means those
scumbag adults you’re feedin’ through the kids are laughin’ behind yer back, Daniel. They’re usin’
ya."
Daniel’s face twisted. He bristled, chest heaving. "Shut up. You don’t know shit about what goes
on here. I’m doin’ this because I want to. Nobody’s using me!"
Reyna opened her mouth to spit another retort, but Ethan laid a hand on her shoulder. Calm,
steady.
"Daniel." His voice dropped lower, softer. "Come with me."
Daniel hesitated, torn between suspicion and curiosity. He stared at Ethan, eyes searching his
face as though trying to detect a lie.
Finally, he exhaled and shoved his hands in his pockets. "...Fine. Where?"
"Just follow me," Ethan said.
Ethan turned, leading the way deeper into the slums. Reyna fell in beside them, silent for once,
though her fingers kept twitching near the hilt of her sword.
Daniel walked behind them, eyes darting around warily.
The alleys grew tighter, darker. Mold crept over the bricks. Voices murmured from behind hidden
doorways.
Finally, Ethan stopped beside a cluster of dilapidated houses where crooked curtains hung over
doorways. The stench of unwashed bodies and stale food hung thick in the air.
Ethan folded his arms and gestured with his chin. "Look."
Daniel frowned, confused, but leaned forward, peering through a gap in the curtains. His eyes
widened as he saw several adults gathered around a table piled with bits of food—the same food
Ethan and Reyna had given out earlier.
The adults were laughing, drinking cheap liquor, greedily dividing the spoils.
One of them slapped a child across the head for daring to reach for a scrap of bread. The kid
whimpered, backing away, eyes filled with tears.
Daniel went perfectly still, grey eyes darkening like thunderclouds. His breath came shorter, sharp.
"...No," he whispered. "That... that’s not..."
Ethan didn’t say a word. He simply let Daniel stare, let the truth soak in like poison. Reyna’s face
was grim beside him.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy, until Daniel’s shoulders sagged. He looked lost, as though
someone had ripped the floor out from beneath him. freewebnøvel.coɱ
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